November 28, 2005

The BuzzFlash Mailbag

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Read the BuzzFlash FAQ for info on submitting to the Mailbag.

THIS IS PART 2 OF THE NOVEMBER 28, 2005 BUZZFLASH MAILBAG. CLICK HERE FOR PART 1

Subject: Timeline

Thanks to maureen farrell for her excellent scholarship on the fascist timeline I read today. I wish she had gone back to Lincoln's statement about fearing the bankers more than the South -- and then to the GOP abandoning T.R. Roosevelt for busting the trusts. This nation was founded expressly to eradicate economic domination by the wealthy. thanks for excellence, by the way she could have mentioned that Nixon's burglars, dressed as bums, as well as George H. W. Bush were oddly in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Thanks, BuzzFlash. 

Marty Weiss
Mexico, MO

Subject: Heard Sam Sedar's / Majority Report great interview with Murray Waas

Murray Waas wrote a great article in National Journal.

Key Bush Intelligence Briefing Kept From Hill Panel By Murray Waas, special to National Journal (nationaljournal.com)

I dug and found the PDB on the internet that Murray writes about.

This is the Post-War Senate Intelligence Committee Report that tries to find out what went wrong.

http://intelligence.senate.gov/iraqreport2.pdf

For one thing, Bush did not give Congress all the information, like he keeps saying he did.

The September 21, 2001 PDB was never handed over to the Intelligence Committee until June, 2004, as the pdf file report shows.

Go to page 314 of the PDF. It will say Page 304 on the bottom of the page because of the index pages.

It says at the top of the page: XII. IRAQ'S LINK TO TERRORISM

You will read that the September 21, 2001 PDB was not given to The Congressional Intelligence Committee until June of 2004, well after Congress had voted for war on all this unknown information - 10 days after 9/11/2001.

Do searches throughout the .pdf for "September 21, 2001" for more info that was not given to Congress until June of 2004.

So much for Bush's and Cheney's statements about "Congress Knew the Same Information That the White House Knew."

Yeah, George, LIKE ABOUT THREE YEARS TOO LATE!!

Ironic how I can find this on the Internet(s) and "The Liberal Media" still hasn't found it. Yet another dagger in my proof of an entire FAUX News Network, disguised as other networks.

Tom Wieliczka
Windsor Locks, CT

Subject: WHAT DO THEY DO FOR THE JEWISH AND OTHER NON CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS IN THE GREEN ZONE?

In the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, a small choir sang religious songs before soldiers dined at tables decorated with candles and flowers. Soldiers also cut large cakes, including one shaped as a Bible with frosting verses and another in the shape of a cross.

GIs Celebrate Third Thanksgiving in Iraq (AP/Yahoo)

So, now the military is only for christians?

This would make me really uncomfortable if I was risking my life and I happened to be Jewish. Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday, last time I looked.

karin
los angeles

Subject: Baby Doc

I have a question and please forgive my ignorance. I have read on this site many times, George Bush referred to as "baby doc". Why is that? What does it mean. Thanks.

Jrtnutt
tampa, fl

[BuzzFlash Note: The original "Baby Doc" was named "president for life" of Haiti, and he was the political heir to his father, Haiti's corrupt dictator, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier.]

Subject: Questions for Schmidt

Crazy Jean Schmidt, the congresswoman who called Murtha a coward, is now whining about how everyone is being mean to her. Waaaaaaahhhhh.... 11/23

In one breath Schmidt says she has received overwhelming communications of support. In the next breath she complains that people have called her down all over the country. Which way is it Jean? I've read some local blogs and it appears that the majority of Greater Cincinnati are embarrassed by your house floor Bullschmidt.

Questions for Schmidt:

“Did your fellow republican reps. coach you on your house statements about Murtha? Do you know now that D.C. is a jungle and that your crony republicans will use and sacrifice you for their own political agendas?

“You claim that you did not know that Murtha was a decorated marine. If that was so, why was it so important to describe OH State Representative Bubp as a MARINE? Was that to dilute Murtha's opinion as a marine by introducing another marine's opinion? Was it an attempt to render Murtha's opinions worthless? Did you lie by saying you didn't know Murtha was a decorated marine?

“Why do you wear red, white and blue all the time? Do you need to prove that you're an American? Could you be trying to send more messages that only republicans are true Americans?

“Have you thought past your nose and realized that, to lie with republicans is to die with republicans... next election?

Cathy L.

Subject: Quote ...

With friends like these ...

"We want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them. The wackos get their information form [sic] the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet, and telephone trees." [italics in original]

-- Michael Scanlon, former aide to Sen. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), strategizing on how to get conservative Christians to protect existing gambling interests by getting them to oppose competition from riverboat gambling. Scanlon plead guilty this week to conspiring to bribe a congressman and other public officials.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: Rewriting History in Rwanda

In this film review of Hotel Rwanda:

http://www.BuzzFlash.com/reviews/05/rev05039.html

BuzzFlash stated:

We'd like to think that Clinton wanted to do something, but knew that the Republican Congress would stop him in his tracks. But the bottom line is that he did nothing -- even if he desired to intervene -- and more than a million died in a few short months.

I wanted to make sure you knew that the President has the legal right to deploy troops without justification from Congress. He needs permission only for a Declaration of War.

Although you'd like to rewrite history, Bill Clinton was just as comfortable ignoring the genocide of black Africans as the Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: Bill Clinton recently called his failure to deploy troops to Rwanda "unconscionable" and chief among his mistakes as president: Bill Clinton implores historians to treat him fairly.]

Subject: Bush Propaganda

You have fallen victim to Bush's propaganda, by calling his Crawford pig farm a "ranch."

Rove wants everyone to think he's Reaganesque by hanging out on a ranch, but could only get a pig farm on such short notice before the 2000 election.

Don't do their bidding. Call a ... defunct pig farm a defunct pig farm (or perhaps a pork factory).

Dan Oberste
Little Rock, Arkansas

[BuzzFlash Note: Defunct pig farm it is! Wikipedia informs us that "Prairie Chapel Ranch" also nurtured turkeys. We love Wikipedia!]

Subject: Thank you to BuzzFlash

Dear Buzzers:

On Thanksgiving, I have to say that I am thankful that BuzzFlash is there. BuzzFlash is very kind. One day I wrote and told them how my husband was laid off. I said I wanted to make a donation. BuzzFlash said not to worry about that, but to have a happy holiday.

There is a premium for everyone, so think of the holidays coming up. I look forward to getting a book from BuzzFlash I ordered. For all my fellow Christian BuzzFlash readers, how about shopping at BuzzFlash this season? You may want to buy a few copies of "Our Endangered Values...America's Moral Crisis" by Jimmy Carter to hand out to the Bush supporters in the pew next to you. You will be helping them out, as well as helping BuzzFlash, too.

Martisa

Subject: Scalito Decision: The "Truth" Vs Fox News...

The Supreme Court WILL have its new Catholic anti-abortion pro-torture judge and NO doubt about it... it's all over but the 'voting'.

This story regarding FAUX NEWS refusing to run anti-Alito ads describes what we've come to expect from Rupert Murdoch and the network which only beer drinkin' baseball cap wearin' yahoos & Nascar watchin' men and soccer kid driving moms of the REPUBLICAN RIGHT-WING watch, and none of those folks would be swayed by the negative ads anyway, right? I mean, they'd only hate "libruls" even more if they were exposed to them... HEY WAIT A SECOND... Murdoch!!! You IDIOT!!! Run the ads ya PUTZ!! Another Golden Opportunity for the right-wing neo con powers that be to incite hatred, conquer, divide...

Fox News Won't Show Ad Opposing Alito (AP/Yahoo)

Subject: EXCELLENT choice (John Murtha for Wings of Justice Nominee)

Dear Buzz:

Although I opposed the Vietnam War, which I didn't become aware of until its last few years (but once I did, I protested my butt off) -- by then, several of my high school classmates and, toward the end, some of my students (when I was teaching English at Boston State College) whom I BEGGED not to go; they didn't listen; they died for...nothing. As the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on YOU. Fool me twice, shame on ME." As I've written earlier (and often), I opposed BOTH Poppy Bush's Gulf War and the current fiasco in Iraq (and, for that matter, in Afghanistan) -- LONG before they were launched. I KNEW, from 9/12 (I'm referring to the day after 9/11, when I, along with the rest of the nation, was still in shock); as I keep saying, it doesn't take a genius to recognize that there was NO connection -- except rapacious political ambition on the part of this administration, which (as it continues to do) manufactured it to suit their own greed/power-related goals) and vehemently opposed the lies, pretexts, and manufactured "intelligence."

Yes, though I wasn't born then, I consider WWII justified (I've only read about this in my history classes, but I believe that war was warranted to stop the holocaust -- however, I also believe that the FDR administration didn't do enough to stop it. I'm still horrified by the atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, killing (sound familiar) at least thousands of innocent civilians. And now we're (well, THEY'RE) doing the same thing now. The failure to count the Iraqi civilian dead is appalling. So is the fact that only troops who die in "active combat" are counted in the death tolls. I'm sure that other deaths have been caused by this needless, senseless, fruitless greed (for both oil, other profits, and neocon-power inspired war.

My question remains: why are we letting this gang of murderers, torturers, and hijackers get away with what they're doing? And why does the MSM go along with these abominations?? And why, with certain exceptions, including, of course, John Murtha, do the Democrats sit by passively and let this crap happen under our noses? And, finally, what CAN we (the enlightened ones/faithful readers of the Buzz) DO about it?? Please don't suggest financial contributions; some of us, including me, don't have the means to donate $$. But there must be other ways for us to further the cause. ... Let me know (I'm underemployed between editing jobs -- online -- and have plenty of time and energy -- but no $$ -- to contribute.)

Barbara Lee (Barb) Blazyk
Athens, GA
Blue soul in Red state

P.S. I admire John Murtha's guts. I just hope he doesn't get on a small plane anytime soon. (Paul Wellstone and his family still haunt me.)

Subject: Thanksgiving

Have fun today!

Hey, it's American Thanksgiving today, the day we all get together, slaughter millions and millions of Turkeys and discuss how thankful we are that we slaughtered millions of Native Americans, currently rape the world of 85% of its resources and waste them with no regard to the planet or the people, and celebrate the fact that each and every one of us enslaves 17 people worldwide to keep us in cheap plastic product and low cost denim jeans! Oh, and we thank God for all of this because, after all, God did bless America and nowhere else! Good times! ;-)

A BuzzFlash Reader

[BuzzFlash Note: Can't wait to get your Christmas greeting?]

Subject: Michael Brown's new firm

Former FEMA Director Michael Brown, heavily criticized for his agency's slow response to Hurricane Katrina, is starting a disaster preparedness consulting firm to help clients avoid the sort of errors that cost him his job.

Ex-FEMA Head Starts Disaster Planning Firm (AP/Yahoo)

And what do you suppose the odds are that Bushco will hire him back, this time as a consultant? 

Pam Clifford
Gouldsboro PA 

Subject: Rep. Jean Schmidt

I tried to send Rep. Jean Schmidt an email yesterday from her Congressional Website but, very interestingly, she was only accepting emails from folks who live in her district. One had to not only include their zip code, but also the 5 digit appendage.

I guess her willingness to 'speak out' only goes out, but not in.

Denis Eble
Toledo, Ohio

Subject: Mean Jean Schmidt GOP Hypocrite of the Week

Schmidt did not "beat" Paul Hackett any more than GWB "beat" Gore or Kerry. I believe that, during the 2nd Ohio election, this Rethug operative was losing to the Gulf War Vet when (suddenly) there was a last-minute computer glitch in polls using electronic machines which gave her the election by about 5000 votes.

It doesn't matter that it's been five years since Bush was selected and then fraudulently "re-(s)elected." All progressives must stop legitimizing fraud by referring to people like Schmidt or Bush or any of a number of other fraudulent office holders as congresswoman, senator or president. To do so is to legitimize these criminals and the malfeasant power that they exercise.

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

Subject: Re: Nofziger Criticizes GOP

Normally I love reading a right-winger's savaging of his own, especially one with the reputed savvy of Nofziger, but, damn, I have to laugh at this:

They've [the Republican leadership] been in power too long … Any time you put any political party in power for too long, it becomes corrupt. It loses its focus. It forgets why it came there.

Reagan Advisor Lyn Nofziger Criticizes Current ‘Corrupt' Republicans (Pensito Review)

This remark is extremely cynical or extremely naive. On the off chance that the latter is the case, I invite Mr. Nofziger, and any others who truly believe the problem with GOP leadership is that these well-intentioned worthies have lost their way after 11 or so years of control, to look at the careers of Bush, Cheney, Frist, DeLay before and after their political involvement, to understand corruption and cronyism was EXACTLY why they all came to Washington in the first place!

Cory Hinman
Ann Arbor, MI

Subject: Woodward Is Lying!

Beth Hunter of Chicago is right on the mark. Bob Woodward is lying his ass off. How convenient it is for him to regain his memory after Libby is indicted. Make no mistake, Woodward sold out a long time ago.

Eric
Maryland

Subject: Someone Explain This to Me

Okay, I was watching the CBS Evening News and they did a story on how the insurance companies are refusing to pay for homes destroyed by Katrina, citing that only "wind" damage was covered and that "water" damage was not.

Several lawsuits are pending, and a spokesman for an insurance company said that if the suits are successful, the result will be no homeowner insurance, as it will be unaffordable.

Okay, the insurance companies say they won't pay for damages that people have been spending money each month to cover, and if they are forced to pay, people won't be able to get insurance.

Folks, if the insurance won't pay for damages, why would you want it anyway?

Mike Curtis
Greenbrier, Ark.

Subject: A Failed Government on All Fronts

Over the Thanksgiving holiday Dick Morris, erstwhile Clinton advisor and current Fox TV News aficionado, laid out some ways President Bush could resuscitate his image and raise his poll numbers to the 60% range. They seemed like kind of silly suggestions, so silly I can't even remember them, and they ignored the strong possibility that very few Americans will ever trust what this president has to say about almost anything ever again. Every day, information is revealed that calls into question the foundations upon which we based our invasion of Iraq. Such revelations are not only infuriating but terrifying as we have come to realize that such dissemblers are in charge of defense planning and overseers of our national security.

Apparently, Vice President Cheney and his cohorts were so distrustful of the CIA they formed an adjunct intelligence operation. And from that questionable vantage point they drew conclusions based on wishful thinking and unreliable sources regarding the military capabilities of Saddam Hussein's regime, his connections to Al Qaeda and the ease with which he could be toppled. And, amazingly, Cheney and the president continue to use the same old fictions in an attempt to drag the rest of us into their delusional universe.

Obviously, though, to effect a positive outcome in Iraq, and a phased withdrawal of our troops, the ability of suicide and roadside bombers to access targets has to be denied even if containment requires serious curtailment of non-military vehicles and the installation of sophisticated detection equipment. And somehow the borders have to be secured, perhaps by enlisting the aid of those high-paid security personnel employed by Halliburton and others, until some degree of order has been established.

Then, too, reconstruction efforts should be turned over to locals. No-bid contracts are usually let in emergencies and are not meant to extend over long periods of time - - for years, and into eternity. This applies as well to reconstruction projects in Louisiana and Mississippi. Already, as is the case in Iraq, funds are doled out with little or no oversight as if a strange new era of laissez-faire had suddenly been spawned with our tax dollars.

But here's a thought - - perhaps something Democrats could pursue. With the huge loss of jobs in this country due to outsourcing and a shrinking industrial base, wouldn't a massive re-training program serve the country well? There are layoffs at Eastman Kodak in Rochester; General Motors in Detroit projects job losses of 30,000; likewise the work force in the steel industry has shrunk, to name just a few areas of concern. What if, instead of funding giant corporations like Halliburton and Brown and Root to rebuild Iraq and make huge profits down south, the government contracted with these experienced companies to re-educate those who will be joining the ranks of the un-employed. What if, better yet, these companies considered it their civic duty to use their expertise for the betterment of our workforce here at home and contributed some time to this effort?

Pie in the sky probably, but maybe it's the germ of an idea. One thing is certain, however, if we cannot bring some sense of order to Iraq we are engaged in a hopeless, wasteful exercise there, and if we cannot promote the welfare of our own citizens at home, our government is failing all of us on all fronts.

Ann D.
www.findingavoice.com

Subject: Another Bush lie to think about ... and a little something else

Just another annoying lie by Bush and his gang of liars. Remember when we had to get the inspectors out of Iraq because our soldiers were losing their edge? They were so prepared that to wait for the inspectors would cause their combat readiness to degrade. And then we find out they were so far from ready that the term criminally negligent is the only phrase that applies. No armor for soldiers or humvees. No plan for the "peace." No plan for the exit. No plan for anything but the re-election of Mien Führer, Bush.

This seems like old news, but I haven't heard anyone refer to that LIE. Invade before anyone questioned the sanity of the decision.

Selling this war was based on split second timing. Get Judith Miller to get the lie into The New York Times. Get all the Bush Administration mouthpieces to refer to the Times article and further hype the danger of Iraq! Then send the troops overseas to sit there and wait for bush and the gang to stampede a UN resolution. All the while trying to panic the public. We have to invade now before the mushroom cloud! Our soldiers are just sitting in Kuwait.....waiting for all the sissies to make up their minds and let us men take charge and clean up the mess.

Well, we all know now that it was all a lie. Not a noble cause ... not anything but a scam for the republicans to take power over this country and give all their friends and donors the BIG payoff. Billions, not millions anymore. Such huge amounts of money that we can't comprehend the magnitude of the corruption.

My biggest fear is that Bush is such a liability that his wacky right-wing republican neo fascists supporters will have him "rubbed out" and blame it on liberals. Try to make him a martyr ... because everyone else knows he is a fool. If I were bush, I would watch out for his "friends.""Et tu Brute" has a certain ring that scares the bejezzus out of me.

I want that whole crew to face impeachment, war crime tribunals, and our legal system. I want this country back and I want them to face the music. No pardons this time. Jail time and civil suits ... and maybe a firing squad for treason.

BuzzFlash Addict

Subject: Thoughts on: Abramoff Probe Broader Than Thought (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's probe of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff is broader than previously thought, examining his dealings with four lawmakers, former and current congressional aides and two former Bush administration officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Prosecutors in the department's public integrity and fraud divisions are looking into Abramoff's dealings with four Republicans -- former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio, Rep. John Doolittle of California and Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana, the paper said, citing several people close to the investigation.

I've heard time and time again that this is a liberal media when we know the uber echelons are conglomerate subordinates who set the tone for the news. If you look at the donation roster for republicans from media types; there is a tilted balance that discerns the true reality. So now ... we've hit an impasse. Has the republican party so abused the media with their absurd and idealistic machinations that even the media cannot accept cover-up? I hope so. I see America waking up to the cleansing of congress.

Sincere regards,

Mike Chevalier, Veteran
Cedar Rapids, IA

Subject: Tick, Tick, Tick (Saturday)

American Military Death Count --- 2106

WMD Found --- 0

Cathy L.

Subject: Thanksgiving

In the midst of thinking about the horrors of this miserable administration and its miserable war, the lies, the arrogance and the national narcissism we find because of them, I'd like to give thanks. Thanks to BuzzFlash and the wonderful BuzzFlash readers and writers - the contributors to the Mailbag, the many superb editorials and commentaries, the Wings of Justice Award and the GOP Hypocrites of the Week (and possibly of all time). I am thankful for this community of liberals, progressives, converts to the truth-seekers. Without all of you I would find myself picking imaginary lint off the wall (which is where I would be without you all - off the wall). I'd also like to wish us all a happy, and peaceful holiday. I hope the victims of the Bush administration throughout this nation and the world will find a better life and recovery from the ills this administration has wrought upon us from NOLA to ANWR from Baghdad to Darfur and every place else.

Support the troops - Bring them home - End the war.

Leslie.......Evanston

Subject: Schmidt's Remarks Disgrace Congress and Insult the Nation

After recovering from my initial shock and outrage over the incredible remarks of Rep. Schmidt, Republican, of Ohio, I felt compelled to express my disgust at this individual's repugnant behavior. To insult and malign a decorated veteran of 37 years of courageous service to his country is to assault all veterans of all wars. Ms. Schmidt has seen fit to attack a man who has risked his life time and again for his country. I can't imagine how it must feel to have sacrificed so much for your country and to then have to listen to such a despicable attack from one who has not committed herself to any public service, let alone put her life on the line for her country. This act by Schmidt was certainly one of the most obscene displays ever witnessed in the halls of Congress. Ms. Schmidt has brought shame upon the institution of the Congress. If she had any shred of decency, she would apologize, sincerely, to the members of Congress, to all veterans and to the country and then she should walk out of the building and give up her seat so a special election could be held to put someone of basic human decency in her place.

But since it's obvious this person doesn't harbor even a shred of decency within her, she will stay, an abominable excrescence on this legislative body. Ms. Schmidt seems determined to demonstrate her unique talent for verbally defecating from her mouth for all to see and hear. I can only hope she will confine further offensive displays to her circle of friends and comrades in the Republican Party. They seem to take a peculiar delight in these repugnant, shameful acts of character assassination and calumny. Maybe we should all send Ms. Schmidt a bedpan so she has something to speak into when she feels moved to utter further excretia.

Where does the Republican Party come up with these abject beings? This Party seems to be a magnet for them. Do they go trolling for wretched souls in dark quarters known only to them? Or do they install neophytes in special boot camps of punk politics where they transform them into mean-spirited politicos inspired only by misanthropy and despair.

Maybe they put ads in sniper magazines. They might look something like this:

The Republican Party seeks individuals for candidacy for public office. No intelligence, skills or aptitude required. Do you like to work with people, help people? Then go somewhere else. No trace of interest in public service is considered a plus. Little to no work involved. Once elected, lobbyist will advise or even write the laws for you and tell you what to vote for or against. Ample paid vacations (by lobbyists) year round. No campaigning skills required (although an aptitude for lying is a real plus), our party has extensive experience in fooling voters and subverting elections. (We campaigned in 2000 promising tax reductions for everyone and got millions of middle income suckers to vote for our candidates. Then, when we took the White House, we passed a tax law which gave most of the tax reductions to the very wealthiest in the country. Hey, they're asking to be ‘taken'!) Those technically minded can get positions with our election subversion unit at Diebold).

Extremely good compensation, basic Government salary plus commissions and tips (many corporations and wealthy cronies pay very well for our services, basically undermining smart public policy and trading the public welfare for private profits by transferring public tax revenues to corporations and wealthy campaign contributors.) Opportunity for rapid advancement. Positions at the highest levels of government may be opening up soon (unless we can GET that dirty rotten, partisan, anti-capitalist, commie bastard, Fitzgerald). Paid training in techniques of disinformation, character assassination, misdirection and intimidation (our Neo-Con wing is loaded with the best in the business in these specialties). You learn how to work with network news people to help them to cover news events in a “balanced” way (advanced training in intimidation and subtle coercion by our Neo-con unit included).

Positions also available posing as journalists for assignment to the White House Press Corps, FOX News, ABC, etc. – You will file stories and reports frequently written by our own skilled (and Government paid!) propagandists and disinformation specialists. It's fun! You'll be treated like real journalists by television talk show hosts and interviewers.

For those going into television news positions you will be given training on how to properly deliver the news. We'll even give you special terms and buzzwords to use such as “partisan political action” e.g.

“Well, on the - partisan politics front - the Democrats, again, raised questions about .. /How the President oversold the intelligence/ Tom DeLay's ethical troubles/ Karl Rove's involvement in the Valerie Plame outing…/ Jack Abramoff's involvement in defrauding…/ Dick Cheney's involvement in…/” (take your pick) – Brian Williams – NBC News

As opposed to the non-committal: “Tom DeLay was indicted today and characterized the Texas D.A. as an extremist and the indictment as a partisan political action. … And in other developments today…” – Brian Williams – NBC News.

Or, here's a good one: “smell blood in the water” as in:

“Well, Tom DeLay has been indicted, and the Democrats smell blood in the water.” __ Gwen Awful (Sic) – PBS Washington Week

For those more inclined to work behind the scenes, intern positions as Republican Congressional staffers are available. Work on all sorts of schemes of collusion, misappropriation of public funds and malfeasance of duty. Your imagination is your only limitation. During election years, get in on fun field trips to intimidate elections board workers and voters. Experience rousing motivational speeches on voter intimidation and subversion of elections by such Low-Life luminaries as Katherine (“Eva Liebschen”, “Dirty Eva”) Harris, James (“the Fist”) Baker and Tony (“The Reign Maker”, “the Coronation Consiglieri”, “the Fixer”) Scalia.

Our party has demonstrated expertise in subverting elections, perverting the justice system and disrupting meaningful public debate of issues through EXTENSIVE use of techniques of disinformation, misdirection, and the application of the principle of the Big Lie. As a member of our party you must be able to develop a self-righteous tone of voice and demeanor while scrambling for cover: “Why, I am shocked, shocked I say, at these accusations leveled by the …/ District Attorney/ Special Prosecutor/ the Grand Jury/. This is obviously the statement of a fanatic. A fanatic, I tell you! I am shocked at such PARTISAN behavior!”

If you feel you have the qualifications or the character flaws to work for our organization, the GOP has a place for you in the Government.

Yes, the Republican Party seems to have a knack for attracting these wretched creatures. They are cleaning the streets of degenerates – and putting them in positions of power in our Government. Let's send Schmidt and the Republicans a message. Tell them she needs to resign her seat in Congress. Her further presence is a disgrace to the institution of Congress and an insult to America.

John Walker
Clinton Township / MI

Subject: Cost of the War

At some point in the wee hours of this morning (PST, Nov 26), the "cost of the war" calculator rolled past the $222,222,222,222.22 mark.

It occurred to me that another way to express this cost could be

Too,too,too,too, too,too,too,too,too,too,too,too,too,too much - dollars, death, and destruction.

Ardyjay
gabriola bc

Subject: Pres Bush on Social Security May 24, 2005

His afterthought ...

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda. (Applause.) "

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050524-3.html

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: It's Time ...

It's Time …
by Alice Connally Fisk

The bagpipes play Amazing Grace
The church bells softly chime
More flag-draped coffins, gun salutes.
A stirring, now. It's Time

Stepping out a bugler sounds
Those haunting notes sublime
TAPS breaks apart the grief-filled heart
And the soul decides... It's Time

But higher still the tallies go
The death and gore and grime
Bold heroes whisper from their graves
Just bring them back... It's Time.

Let no more lives be sacrificed -
Brave troops smack in their prime -
Send them home to family, friends
IT'S WELL-DESERVED. It's Time.

The signs appear now one by one -
Their numbers swiftly climb -
Seen all across America
The Wisdom Words "IT'S TIME"

Beneath those words our flag is seen
It joins the nation's chime
The season for to heal is NOW
It's more than clear, It's TIME.

Copyright 2005, by Alice Connally Fisk

Permissions will be granted for kindred spirits to place this work on their websites. Afisk10302@aol.com

Poem also posted at U. S. Labor Against the War: http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=9447;

Alice Connally Fisk

Subject: The Big Lie Works When It Is Big Enough

In 1998 the so-called “neocons” lined up and expressed to the Clinton administration that “regime change” was vital to American and world security. This could have been the initial leak to the American people of an astounding plan that was possibly in the works for decades.

Consider this hypothesis: Bush was elected and the entire voting debacle takes place in order to implement an entire Middle East takeover---and one that the planners could not lose, no matter which way it went!

“Could not lose” because simply once, as Colin Powell stated, “Once you break it, you own it”. Once we went in, and went in to occupy, the planners KNEW we were there possibly forever. And here is why. If the war had gone exactly as planned, we would have gone in, liberated, “constituted,” “democratized,” and left. No one in their right mind believes that could have happened. No one. Only the American public, with their undying trust in their government. We just cannot believe that we can be duped that badly. No one gets one over on the American people, or would dare to try!

Right.

Best case scenario leaves us in Iraq for years, with the Bechtels and Halliburtons receiving contract upon contract to rebuild what they feel like rebuilding, and our military presence, possibly diminished, would be making sure that the oil fields would be “protected” for years to come. The American public would have been left with maybe 35—50,000 troops permanently based in Iraq. Rumsfeld tried to set this up with his initial troop deployment. It is a lot easier to get down to 40,000 from what he deployed than what Shinseki wanted, right? This insures that bases to attack any “insurgency” are established. The entire middle east is at our doorstep for any military action.

Worst case scenario is one that is occurring now, perhaps not exactly as the planners had envisioned it. The American public (thank you Katrina) is so dissatisfied with Dubya that everything he does now is questioned. The planners figured for a little of that bluster, but I do not feel that disasters, heaven or Rove/DeLay-made, were taken into account.

So let’s say that now the Republicans have to do a little backtracking. Yes, we might have to pull some of the troops out. Maybe most of them. Sure the Kurds and the Turks won’t fight, their hundreds of years of distrust doesn’t foretell that, right? The Sunnis and Shi’a will live peacefully together, as they have also done forever (never). Their constitution will bring western law and values to centuries of dictator-led governments and tribal customs. So let’s sit back and watch Plan B: “The Civil War.”

Gee, let’s see. We will let all of the regional oil be destroyed in a civil war … right. We will let multi-demographic genocide take place … right.

The planners were good, let me tell you. Why did we pull troops out of Saudi Arabia right after 9/11? They knew if Plan B went down, they were going to be in better shape. Reason was is that they would get the Whole Enchilada.

Now, I wonder why we went to such lengths to piss off the U.N., installing a John Bolton, etc., if we weren’t going to establish precedence for the third invasion. I mean one in which we have ALREADY said to the other nations of the world with the current war, you’re in or you’re out. Hey, our troops have been training for this one for over 3 years already.

So fast forward….now that the civil war has begun between the Kurds, the Turks, the Sunnis and The Shi’a AND Iran, who is better deployed than the U.S.? Certainly the U.N. isn’t, having been stomped on by Bolton, Rice, etc., and branded ineffective. No help there. And the few countries who are left in the multinational force can split up the “goods,” now the entire middle east, not just Iraq.

Now, if you have the guts, reverse Plan B to A…….B to be the original and desired effect…what we have now is JUST WHAT THEY PLANNED. And our president was the instrument that was played, like us.

Yes, folks, unless we go to the U.N. soon, hat in hand, the “planners” I have been referring to will have their wish. And to top it off, it will look at first like the anti-war groups will have won because they will feel that they forced the pull-out. They planned SO WELL that we are getting what we want, and they get what they wanted.

The big lie works when it is big enough.

Scott Young
Silver Spring, MD

Subject: Congressional Salary

It is obvious to me that we are paying our senators and congressmen way too much money. The fact that any of them, Democrat or Republican, supported the notion that Iraq was a threat to the United States is testimony to the fact that their level of competence justifies a salary more in the range of $25,000 a year rather than the $162,500 that they are now receiving. We should have a right to expect our elected representatives to be of sufficient intelligence to figure out that it was ridiculous to believe that Iraq was a threat to the United States. Iraq had no navy and no air force. The Iraqi army had been decimated in the first gulf war. We bombed them on a regular basis for over ten years and we had inspectors running all over their country telling us there were no weapons of mass destruction. We have satellites and spy planes flying over the country that have cameras on board capable of reading the writing on a coin on the ground. How could anyone come to the conclusion that Iraq could pose a threat to the United States? The United States possess enough firepower to blow the entire country of Iraq off the face of the planet. There is no way that Saddam Hussein would have been stupid enough to attack the United States even if he did have some kind of weapon capable of doing so.

Anyone who believes that the Bush administration was not lying to get us into the war in Iraq does not possess sufficient intelligence to be earning a salary of $162,500.

Richard Stencil
Olalla, Washington

Subject: Some of the departed said it best!

As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. -- H.L. Mencken

I think Mr. Mencken's prophesy has been fulfilled.

Bill Sybert
Dallas, Texas

Subject: More on Morons from Kansas City

Before checking out: http://www.kansasmorons.com/

... you must read the Credo I sent via email to each of the members of the KC Board of Education: Credo:

Thank you for allowing other beliefs to be considered along with those of the so-called scientific community. Were it not for the blurring of the lines between fact and truth, as manifested by an unbridled belief in the ponderance of imponderability, our history would be so devoid of those events that have abetted mankind to the nadir of critical thinking. For us there is no divide between the assumed science of astronomy and the rigors of astrology. There must have been a Creator to have confounded us with such a complex, yet predictive scheme. Astrology is both faith and science in which the Creator lets us know that His mighty stellar works are His roadmap to understanding the nature of man and how predestined we all are to His will. Even the lines between medical science and the observations of phrenology become blurred when we consider the amazing complexity and limitless variations in the patterns of bumps and lumps on the human head, and how the Creator in His wisdom made it possible for us to understand how and why some races are inferior to others. Call me a flat-worlder it you must, but it has only been through the applied rejection of unfettered, unencumbered science and associated critical thinking that we have spiced our history with wars, Crusades, Inquisitions and Witch burnings. And I can’t help but think that we are all better off because of our ignorances and intolerances. It’s just all so amazingly complex and at the same time delightfully nonsensical that it must be the will of a Creator- one with a great sense of humor. 

David M. Loucas
West Palm Beach, FL

Subject: I, at least, know what they look like now

Yesterday, I asked a customer for an ID because he hadn't signed his credit card and he showed me his "Concealed weapon license" with his picture on it. I am not sure if he just wanted to let me know he could be armed, although there is a sign on the door that guns are prohibited.

Speak up or they assume you agree!!! ABB

Karen Webb
Moore, Ok.

Subject: Stay-home Moms

Regarding your posting of the American Prospect article by Linda Hirshman - what's missing from this article and from most discussions on this topic, especially, alas, from our side (the liberals) is that human babies are primates.

Primate infants, toddlers, and older youngsters are irreparably damaged if they do not have lots of contact with their mothers early in their lives. A few hours a day, after day care, is not adequate; it is, in fact, very very harmful. The NICHD data is clear on this, though the NICHD scientists themselves try to obscure this.

Our society must find a way to meet the needs of its children for appropriate nurturance, human milk, and TIME with their moms. Until we do this, our advances will be in fits and starts, as people whose needs are not met in infancy (i.e., people who don't get their mom 24/7 in infancy) are people who grow up neurotic. Our country needs a lot fewer neurotics, not more.

So, while it is very stylish to pretend infants and toddlers don't need their mothers, it is a big, fat damaging lie. A decent liberal society would provide health insurance for all, paid maternity and paternity leave (though babies need their mommies, not their daddies, btw, because babies need human milk on demand), and kindergeld.

A decent society does not torture its newest humans by depriving them of the one thing, mommy, that they need to feel safe and secure. It's quite insane, really, and hopefully it won't be too long before enough people realize that.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a smart, educated woman mothering. I've done it ever since my son, as an infant 13 years ago, made it quite screamingly clear that his mother working might have value to many people, but had no value, only great harm, to him. My impact on my community has grown since I've actually been in it, rather than commuting away from it.

"Choice feminism" claims that staying home with the kids is just one more feminist option. Funny that most men rarely make the same "choice." Exactly what kind of choice is that? 11/26

Laurie
Manassas, VA

[BuzzFlash Note: We think Hirshman's article is provocative and worth talking about. But we're not interested in liberals mutually bashing each other in the Mailbag, okay? Her focus is clearly on empowering women economically. She's not focused on the kids, but on the women. By the way, that BuzzFlash headline came verbatim from The American Prospect.]